Tuesday, 9 April 2013

Shy daffodils and pale sunshine through a cold wind

In the morning, our daffodils tried to open up at last, and very late, but the cold continued to keep them shy.

and in the afternoon... just another view from my favourite soft cafe seats in Perth, accompanied by the largest latte, and a long slow read.

Pale sunshine made an attempt to warm the air, but only to 5 °C while a bitter easterly wind made it feel much colder.

Time is ticking on, and I am trying not to give a damn about that. I did some of what I call work this evening though, gently. And I installed a kitchen blind last night. So... busy, busy, busy, really?

Hello Craig. Yes, that is Perth City Hall, which there has been a huge fight about for some years. The council wish to demolish it and replace it with a new "Civic Square". Many wish to retain it and put it some some alternative use, as it has not been used for years since the excellent new Concert Hall opened. As is my unfortunate tendency, I can see merit in both sides of the argument. It would be an ideal place for a Perth Visitor Centre, Tourist Info office (currently hidden away in a stupid location) and indoor market, but there are problems over who takes the financial risks involved, and I don't want it to be me (indirectly). There is a half-and-half proposal to retain the imposing entrance architecture that you can see in the photo, and some covered area as a stage-like part, somewhat like the Brandenburg Gate. At present, the approved plans for demolition (and which almost went ahead) are on hold due to an objection by Historic Scotland, I think. It will likely rumble on for a while yet. I hope a new viable use can be found for it in some form (there was a plan to convert to a new shopping mall, surprise surprise, but the recession killed that), but I do rather expect it will be demolished eventually, subjecting us to a year or so of dusty chaos and then, either a nice new civic square or a windy paved desert frequented in the evenings by drunks and drug addicts. Long answer. Sorry, but that's my understanding of the state of play.

It's taking a bit of getting used to, this "New Calum"... Frankly, I do rather doubt that my daffs are lifting their heads in "worship", but as you already know I do admit that I know nothing for sure. If there is a Lord or Lords of any kind I expect she/he/it/they will be found by looking downwards as much as looking upwards. Even a sideways glance might suffice? But I am of course not the man to ask about any such matters. Anyway..., my daffs are fully out today but their heads are still down.

"Several hundred" eh EC. I had already gathered that you don't do things by halves, as far as planting bulbs is concerned